A Campaign to clean up Sungai Kayu Ara in Bukit Lanjan has begun.

In three months, the river is expected to be a model of a clean river to all Malaysians.

The Sungai Kayu Ara project, which will rope in participation from the local community, is an initiative by Bukit Lanjan State Assemblyman Yong Dai Ying to rehabilitate the rvier.

The project was launched by Natural Resources and Environemnt Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid in Dataran Kampung Kayu Ara yesterday.

At the launch, Azmi praised the residents' initiative to step waste from flowing into the river.

"Children should be taught to keep our environment and rivers free of waste", he said.

Under the project, the ministry would give a grant to an assemblyman or member of Parliament to promote environmental awareness within the community.

The launch was also attended by representatives from the Irrigation and Drainage Department, Environment Department, Petaling Jaya City Council, Alam Flora, community members, Hi tech and Global Environment Centre (GEC).

The project was aimed at reducing the waste generated by residents in Kampung Ara, Jalan Tanjung, Taman Kayu Ara Indah, Sri Ara flats and Jalan Cempaka.

Under the project, rubbish traps were put at Sungai Kayu Ara to determine the amount of solid waste found in the river over the project period.

The three-month project will be co-ordinated by GEC.

It began on Sept1 with a three-hour community training session by GEC on solid waste and river management.

Yong said 30 community members in the area attended the training which taught them the importance of proper solid waste and river management.

"A three-day clean-up programme was held from Sept 5 to rid the rivers bank of rubbish."